Sirup pump



May 19, 1953 J. J. YuzA SIRUP PUMP Filed lay 14, 1949 Inmo/Ro?" Joe/U figa a, Mm

Patented May 19,r` 1953 Joseph J. Yuza, Chicago,--Ill., assigner to The Liquid Carbonio Corporation, Chicago, Ill., a

corpotationof Delaware Application May 14, 194.9,v serial 10.93379 3 Claims. (Cl. 222-385) My invention relates to an improvement in syrup pumps, particularly adapted for dispensing mixed soda water and syrup drinks at soda fountains.

In dispensing such drinks, the common practice is to store syrup in a metal or porcelain open top jar and to deliver syrup to the glass ofthe dispenser with a metering pump having a cylinder and piston low in the jar, with a valve inlet opening at the bottom and an outlet tube rising above the top of the jar, the pump being mounted on a cover plate closing the jar opening, and the outlet tube passing through the cover plate. Generally a check valve of the ball type is placed between the cylinder outlet part andthe outlet tube so that a xed volume of syrup will be dispensed, regardless of the level of the syrup above the cylinder inlet valve. A means of adjusting the pump delivery per stroke is provided by adjusting the length of the stroke.

Whilethis structure is operative and in use, it has definite disadvantages and presents definite problems. Frequent cleaning is necessary. Syrups tend to crystallize out on wetted but nonsubmerged parts. Since the jar temperature is generally above that inhibiting mold and bacteria growth, the cleaning must be complete and frequent with final sterilization of all rparts by immersion in water at a temperature of 170 F., or by chemical means. Such cleaning is diflicult or impossible with pumps of even recent design. Sanitarians and sanitaryl authorities have demanded that an acceptacle pump meet the following speciiications:

1. The parts contacting the syrup should all be of stainless steel or its equivalent.

2. The unit should be subject to easy and complete dismantling, without tools or with such simple tools as may be available to a fountain operator.

3. All parts must be cleanable with a brush and all tubular members must be constructed so that a brush may pass through the tube.

4. The members assembled by screw threads must not have V or sharp threads, a rolled thread being preferred.

5. All parts joined by solder or welding shall have a llet with a radius of not less than le of an inch. On turned parts, surfaces meeting at 90 shall have the same radius.

My invention meets all of the above specifications and has other purposes which will appear and be discussed in the course of the specification.

I illustrate my invention more or less diagrammatically in the accompanying drawing which 2 illustrates, in vertical section, a typical exemplication of my invention. Y

Referring to the drawing, a metal plate I, ilanged as at Ia on its four sides, supports the below described pump mechanism. It is provided with an extruded center hole 2, and an off center hole 3. vThe tube 4, which constitutes the `pump cylinder, is shown as having four dilerent The small diameter portion 4a enters the hole 2 in the cover plate I. The portion 4b has an intermediate diameter. The portion 4c, of still larger diameter, forms the pump cylinder, and the bottom portion 4d' gives clearance for parts below described. l

Within the above described cylinder structure, I provide a tubularpiston member 5 having an diameters.

upper portion of minimum diameter 5a, with la free bearing fit in the upper end 4a of the cylinder tube 4. It has a threaded member I soldered o-r otherwise fastened to its upper end, and the piston 1 soldered or otherwise fastened to its lower end. The piston' I is a close t in the cylinder sectiony 4c of the tube 4. It will be notedv from the drawing that the enlarged portion 5b of the piston 5 provides a shoulder which abuts against the corresponding shoulder '4b of the cylmovement of the Thelower end of the tube 4 is shown as closed by a flanged cap 8 held by pins 9 riveted to the -tube 4, which enter L-shaped slots I0 in the cap 8,

permitting removal of the cap by a slight turn. A coil spring I I, located below the piston, is compressed between the piston 'I and the cap 8 and maintains the piston 'I at the top of its stroke when external downward pressure is not applied to the piston tube 5. The bottom of the cap 8 is illustrated with a hole I2 and a valve disc I3, which may be centered by a cage I4 which also serves as a centering means for the lower end of the coil spring Il.

The outlet or delivery tube I5, shown kas slightly enlarged at its lower end, is attached to the tube 4, with matching holes in the two tubes to form the outlet port I6. The open bottom end of the tube I5 is shown as closed by a check valve housing Il, having a cross port I '8 opposed to the port I6, and a communicating seat in a vertical bore IIaclosed by the ball I9. The ball I9 is limited to a short travel by any suitable retainer 20. A shoulder 2I at the bottom of the valve housing I'I is cut away at one side, as shown in the drawing, so that it can enter the tube I6 only with its crossport I8 opposed to the cross port I6 between the two tubes.V When the cap 8 is applied, the

cap flange is effective to lock the valve housing in the position in which it is shown in the drawing.

The outlet tube I5 extends through the cover hole 3, through any suitable bushing 22 which may be assembled by solder. The tube I5 is bent at its upper end above the bushing 22 to approximately 45 from the vertical. It has an outlet orifice 23 near its upper end and located on the under side of the inclined upper portion of the tube. Removable plug 24 enters the open end of the tube I5 and is formed and adapted to cause syrup to ow only through the discharge orifice 23. The plug 2l is held in the tube by a rolled thread 25 on the plug and a dimple 26 depressed in the tube. The extension 21 of the plug 24, of reduced diameter. reduces the volume of syrup above the orifice level of the orifice 23 to such an extent that the flow of syrup through the orifice is cut olf sharply and without subsequent dripping of the syrup.

To apply pressure to the piston tube 5 through the top member 6, I provide a rolled thread 6a on an upper portion of the member 6. It takes a moulded plastic knob 29, having a mating internal thread 28. The knob V2S) is recessed at its upper surface as at 29a to take a transparent plastic cap 30, on the underside of which is moulded the names of the various syrups dispensed. The letters are incised and filled with White enamel, and the inside of the cap 3B is lacquered black. The cap is then cemented into the recess 29a of the knob 29. Thus water cannot penetrate into the recess of the cap 29 and the lettering is permanent.

A collar 32 is placed over the top of the tube 5 before the knob 29 is applied, the length of the collar determining the stroke length and the delivery of the pump. Several collars of varying lengths ar-e furnished with each pump, to permit selection of delivery by the user.

It will be realized that whereas I have described and claimed a practical and operative device, nevertheless many changes in size, shape, number and disposition of parts may be made without departing from the spirit of my invention. I therefore wish my description and drawings to be taken as in a broad sense illustrative r diagrammatic rather than as limiting me to my specific showing herein,

The use and operation of the invention are as follows:

The pump plate I, supporting the above described assembly, is placed over or upon the syrup filled jar X. On the downstroke of the piston, by pressure upon the knob 29, air is expelled through the discharge port IB, the ball check I9, the outlet tube I5, and the orifice 23. On the return stroke, which is actuated by the spring II, the disc I3 over the inlet port 'I2 lifts to admit syrup from the interior of the jar X, the ball check I9 preventing back flow from or through the outlet tube I5. Several downstrokes of the piston will ll the cylinder space sufliciently for the delivery through the aperture 23 of a xed volume of syrup at each later stroke.

No tools are required for dismantle for cleaning. The user turns the bottom cap 8 slightly to remove it, releasing the inlet valve disc I3, the cage I4, and the spring and valve assembly. The knob 29 is unscrewed from the top member 6, thus releasing the collar 32 and the central piston tube 5. The plug 24 at the end of the outlet tube I is readily unscrewed. All the parts may then be Washed and sterilized in hot water or in a sterilizing chemical and may be reassembled without the use of tools.

The above described pump has many advantages over the old style pumps. Former silverplated die-cast metals are replaced in my pump by stainless steel, assembled with high melting silver solder instead o1 lead-tin solder as was necessary with die castings. Only rolled threads are used, which are easily brushed clean, whereas the usual V threads of the prior art could not be cleaned thoroughly by ordinary means.

Another improvement is in the perfect alignment of the piston in the cylinder. It has been customary to cast or draw a metal cup forming the cylinder, and to support it rigidly from the top plate by two, vertical members, and to mount the piston on a rod or tube, with its upper end passing through a bearing in the top plate. This required such precise alignment of cylinder axis to piston lod axis. to insure that the piston would travel freely in the cylinder, that under practical shop methods a free travel was not easily obtained. This caused friction and wemy which resulted in increasing leakage past the piston until the pump delivery became erratic. the volume pumped to the users glass being less for a slow stroke than for a quick stroke. Also, with such independent support of the cylinder to the tcp plate, the pump required careful handling during disassembly and washing to avoidfdistortion, and a slight. drop could throw the cylinder out of alignment with the piston. with consequent wear and leakage.

In my pump,` I have insured precise and inherent alignment of cylinder and piston by making the cylinder and piston rod bearing of a single piece of tubing, drawing the tubing to the necessary diameters by a process which holds the axes of the cylinder and the top bearing concentric, and making the piston rod of tubing with a lathe. cut-off at its lower end into which the piston extension l can enter only with true alignment of its axis with the axis of the cylinder tube 4.

Thus I obtain close alignment of the cylinder and piston axes. which insures long life and continued close metering. Also, if my pump is carelessly handled or dropped,l there is no danger of losing the original alignment. The piston and support tube structure 5. lie within the rigid long cylinder tube 1 and cannot be distorted. The enclosingl cylinder tube 4 is rigid and dropping it to the floor could, at the most, only misalign the tube in relation toI the cover plate I. This does not affect the operation of the pump, and the concentric axial alignment of the piston in the cylinder and of the piston rod of-'the top bearing cannot thereby be lost.

Another advantage over all older designs is that'at .the end of the pistonr stroke the flow from the orifice 23 .is cut of! instantly without drip. The mechanics of dispensing requires that the outlet tube rise at about 45 Well above the jarcover I, and extend outwardly so that a glass may be readily centered under the orifice .23. Just below the body of the plug 24, I position the sharp edged orice 23 in the tube Wall, with the plug extension 21 extending Well past the orifice 23.

Without the extension 21 there is. drip from the sharp-edged orifice 23Y at the end of each stroke, when delivering heavy Syrups. When the vpiston starts upward under spring actuation,

syrup in the tube I5 is no longer under pressure and tends to ow back until the ball I9 seats. The travel of the ball is sufficient to cause the syrup level at the outlet to lower to or below the lower edge of the orifice 23. But with heavy syrups, enough remains on the face of the plug 24 and on the adjacent inner walls of the tube, above the orifice, to cause drip.

By adding the plug extension 2l the syrup so remaining runs down the inclined extension, rather than through the orifice 23. Thus my structure, as described, accomplishes a complete shut-off, without drip.

I claim:

1. In a pump unit for dispensing soda fountain syrup and the like, a supporting plate adapted to serve as a removable cover for an open-topped syrup container, said cover having two apertures, an outer tube secured in one such aperture and including unitary tubular portions of different diameters, said outer tube being open at top and bottom, a dispensing tube secured to a lower part of said outer tube and having an upper portion extending outwardly through the other of said apertures in the plate and terminating in a discharge end, a tubular piston structure movably mounted in said outer tube, a removable closure for the lower end of said outer tube, and a removable handle enlargement for the upper end of the tubular piston, whereby the tubular piston structure is fil downwardly removable through the lower end of the outer tube.

2. The structure of claim 1 characterized by and including a removable closure for the discharge end of the dispensing tube, and a removable vclosure for the bottom of the dispensing tube.

3. The structure of claim l characterized by and including a removable closure for the bottom of the dispensing tube formed and adapted to engage and be held by the removable closure for the lower end of said outer tube.

JOSEPH J. YUZA.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Re. 15,450 Bobrick Sept. 12, 1922 1.649,209 Bastian Nov. l5. 1927 1,781,764 Coi'lin Oct. 15, 1929 1,917,678 Wheeler July 11, 1933 2,038,778 Williams Apr. 28, 1936 2,069,076 Majewski Jan. 26, 1937 2,078,483 De Weal Apr, 27, 1937 2,096,227 De Weal Oct. 19, 1937 2,125,572 Johnson Aug. 2, 1938 2,407,765 Palmer Sept. 12, 1946 2,504,371 Anderson Apr. 18, 1950 2,519,640 Echols Aug. 22, 1950 

